27 Aug 2019

Are MPs paid too much or is it well-earned?

From Checkpoint, 5:40 pm on 27 August 2019

The government is scrapping changes brought in in 2015 to try stop excessive pay increases for MPs, labelling them a failure that have had the opposite effect.

Last year Parliament froze MPs' salaries and allowances after rejecting the proposed three percent pay increase as "unacceptably high".

In 2015, concerned by high salary increases, former Prime Minister John Key removed the Remuneration Authority's independence in setting MPs' pay, and instead introduced a set formula.

Workplace Relations Minister Iain Lees-Galloway says this change led to even greater pay increases, and he's going to introduce a bill to repeal it.

But the Greens are warning this is simply tinkering around the edges and MPs' wages should match other New Zealanders.

So do MPs think they're paid too much?